Why the Flyers held onto Rasmus Ristolainen through Trade Deadline
As the NHL Trade Deadline came and went last Friday, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen stayed put. After weeks (and months) of Ristolainen being the subject of trade discussion, GM Danny Briere hung onto the Olympic silver medalist, with the market not bearing any fruit.
Ristolainen, 31, has a year remaining on his contract ($5.1 million AAV), so it isn’t like the Flyers had to trade him. Nevertheless, given that the Flyers are set to miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, many thought getting anything of value for the rugged, often-injured blueliner was the optimal path.
According to sources, hanging onto Ristolainen was not only about holding firm on their price – it was for the benefit of the team. After acquiring David Jiricek from the Minnesota Wild and already having Oliver Bonk in the AHL (both right-hand shooting defensemen), retaining Ristolainen allows the Flyers to be patient with both young defensemen, according to sources. With Ristolainen playing such a vital role on the team’s top pair, trading him would’ve left a significant hole in their lineup, which could’ve led to a potential rushing of one of the aforementioned blueliners.
Yes, the Flyers could’ve found a stop-gap in the meantime, but with the free agent pool as shallow as ever and the trade market being what it is for top-four defensemen, it likely would’ve cost the team more to find said replacement for Ristolainen while the team took the patient approach with Bonk and Jiricek. Specifically for Jiricek, whose development has been anything but linear having already been traded twice since being drafted in 2022 by the Columbus Blue Jackets, being able to learn from a guy like Ristolainen is also something of value, according to sources.
While the price for Ristolainen was ideally a first-round pick-plus, the Flyers were open to other types of moves. According to sources, the Flyers offered Ristolainen and a roster player to an Eastern Conference team for a prospect and a roster defenseman; the move was ultimately turned down by the other team.
Reading the tea leaves, the sense is that, while there was never an official trade offer, there was potential for the Flyers to get a first-round pick on deadline day from an Eastern Conference team for Ristolainen. However, it would’ve required the Flyers to take back a less than ideal contract without additional compensation; Philadelphia was clearly not open to doing so.
The Flyers could look to revisit a trade in the summer for Ristolainen, but they also feel like they could hang onto him into next season and re-evaluate at the deadline next year. If the team is in the playoffs, they could hang onto him as an “own rental,’” and if they’re out of the playoffs they could move him; they believe they’ll be able to get a second-round pick (which was offered this year) next season around this time. And to be clear, there is no plan one way or another to re-sign Ristolainen beyond this next season.
So what else could the Flyers have planned between now and next season?
After moving Bobby Brink to the Wild, the Flyers will still need to free up some roster spots on the wing ahead of next season. With Alex Bump getting the call-up to the Flyers recently and Tyson Foerster (back from injury) and Porter Martone (turning pro) set to join the team next year, something will have to give. Owen Tippett’s name is certainly still out there but, as was reported several times recently, the Flyers are not shopping him – despite teams showing consistent interest.
The back-up goaltender position is one that will be addressed, according to sources. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is an interesting name, as something will have to give in Ontario’s capital with a three-goalie situation heading into next season. Woll, 27, has two years remaining on his contract and carries an AAV of a little more than $3.66 million.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres is also an interesting name, depending what GM Jarmo Kekalainen elects to do with his goaltenders going into next season. Alex Lyon is currently the No. 1 and under contract for another year; Devon Levi will eventually need (?) to get the call-up to the NHL eventually; Colton Ellis is under contract for another season on an ELC. Considering all this, could Luukkonen be available?
Luukkonen, 27, is under contract until 2029 and carries an AAV of $4.75 million. He has a five-team no-trade list that kicks in next season.
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